If your reason for seeking education beyond high school is to get out into the workplace and make a good living, don't overlook the option of attending your local community college for two years in lieu of a four-year university. Community colleges are evolving to meet the needs of today's students and the benefits to you can be staggering. Here's why:
1. Your degree will cost you less. For an average of $2,400 per year for two years (compare to about $12,000 per year for four years), the community college student's savings is considerable. Over 11 million community college students are demanding that they get what they pay for every year. For their investment, they benefit from hands-on experience while learning, depending on the area of study, have close to 100 percent job placement following completion. For students who earn a 3.7 grade point average or higher, a prestigious Phi Theta Kappa membership is well within reach and offers many networking opportunities just as it does for a traditional college graduate.
2. The classroom environment is more conducive to learning. With less than 30 students per community college classroom, there is much more personal attention. There isn't an assembly-line component to learning and guesswork on multiple-choice tests is replaced with putting knowledge into practice. Class selection is varied and offers numerous stimulating learning experiences. With costs comparably lower, the community college student can afford to explore areas of study without having to commit right away. What's more, evening and weekend classes are available for those who need to keep their day jobs while earning a degree.
3. The faculty's single focus is to educate you. The lure of research and publishing tend to get the attention of college professors, leaving teaching assistants to lead most of the classroom time for underclassmen on most traditional campuses. This isn't the case in community colleges because the professors come from the actual workplace in order to teach the up and coming workforce. In fact, it's not uncommon for students of community colleges to benefit from networking with their teachers in search of their first job.
4. Community colleges get their name in part from the feeling of community. There is no massive campus to negotiate or throngs of students to feel lost among for the entering community college student. The campus is often in the center of the city and most students simply commute from home and save themselves the cost of room and board. Collegiate activities abound, however. There are usually sports teams, social functions and student government for students who enjoy extra curricular activities.
If your not convinced that lower costs and a higher learning experience can lead to personal success, you might want to consider the records of some of the other graduates of community colleges across the country. Did you know that Eddie Murphy went to Nassau Community College and baseball's Jackie Robinson was a proud alumni of Pasadena City College?
1. Your degree will cost you less. For an average of $2,400 per year for two years (compare to about $12,000 per year for four years), the community college student's savings is considerable. Over 11 million community college students are demanding that they get what they pay for every year. For their investment, they benefit from hands-on experience while learning, depending on the area of study, have close to 100 percent job placement following completion. For students who earn a 3.7 grade point average or higher, a prestigious Phi Theta Kappa membership is well within reach and offers many networking opportunities just as it does for a traditional college graduate.
2. The classroom environment is more conducive to learning. With less than 30 students per community college classroom, there is much more personal attention. There isn't an assembly-line component to learning and guesswork on multiple-choice tests is replaced with putting knowledge into practice. Class selection is varied and offers numerous stimulating learning experiences. With costs comparably lower, the community college student can afford to explore areas of study without having to commit right away. What's more, evening and weekend classes are available for those who need to keep their day jobs while earning a degree.
3. The faculty's single focus is to educate you. The lure of research and publishing tend to get the attention of college professors, leaving teaching assistants to lead most of the classroom time for underclassmen on most traditional campuses. This isn't the case in community colleges because the professors come from the actual workplace in order to teach the up and coming workforce. In fact, it's not uncommon for students of community colleges to benefit from networking with their teachers in search of their first job.
4. Community colleges get their name in part from the feeling of community. There is no massive campus to negotiate or throngs of students to feel lost among for the entering community college student. The campus is often in the center of the city and most students simply commute from home and save themselves the cost of room and board. Collegiate activities abound, however. There are usually sports teams, social functions and student government for students who enjoy extra curricular activities.
If your not convinced that lower costs and a higher learning experience can lead to personal success, you might want to consider the records of some of the other graduates of community colleges across the country. Did you know that Eddie Murphy went to Nassau Community College and baseball's Jackie Robinson was a proud alumni of Pasadena City College?
About the Author:
American Educational Guidance Center staff writer Julie Clark Robinson writes on subjects which include conducting a successful school search, the value of online degrees and continuing education for adults.
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